KANAB, UTAH—There will be three vegetation improvement projects on public and state lands in Kane and Garfield counties, beginning Monday, by the Bureau of Land Management, Color Country District, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Utah Division of Forestry Fire and State Lands, in conjunction with Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative.

The project areas include 1,776 acres north of Kanab, along the Hancock Road; 1,971 acres located two miles north of Hatch; and 1,226 acres in Upper Kanab Creek, near Johnson Canyon and Bald Knoll.

State and federal land managers collaborated on project design, with objectives to improve watershed conditions, increase mule deer and sage grouse habitat, and reduce hazardous fuels for community wildfire protection. Identified areas will receive aerial seeding with a mix of native grasses and forbs, followed by removal of pinyon and juniper and some shrub understory. All projects are scheduled to be completed by March 1, 2015.

“These projects are being supported and funded by a variety of private, state, and federal cooperators, including Mule Deer Foundation, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Safari Club International, Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources,” BLM Natural Resource Specialist Shawn Peterson said. “Coordinating resources helps us treat multiple acres and maximizes rangeland health benefits, which may not be realized without our partners.”

While the projects are in progress, please adhere to safety signs surrounding the treatment area.

Resources

For additional information, contact Nick Howell at 435-865-3026 or Paul Briggs at 435-865-3002.

Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual